ClutchPoints

James Harden warns worst mistake Rockets can make during streak is getting ‘too relaxed’

The Houston Rockets have hardly been challenged at all during their recent run of dominance. The Rockets, owners of the Western Conference’s best record at 18-4, have won their last seven games with an average margin of victory of 21.6 points.

However, Rockets superstar James Harden has warned that the team’s biggest challenge at the moment isn’t any particular team, but themselves as they battle possible complacency.

“Just not get too relaxed,” Harden said per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “Know what the bigger picture is. Just keep attacking. Have energy every game, because every game isn’t going to be perfect. We want to win every game, but it’s not going to happen. We just need to find ways to grind days out.”

The Rockets are showing the true extent of their potential, now that they are at full strength following Chris Paul’s return from a knee injury. Apart from having an explosive offense, they also boast a top-10 defense as they look more and more like a complete title challenger.

There’s an obvious risk that the Rockets start to believe their own hype the longer their streak goes on, but it will be on the team’s leaders in Harden and Paul to keep the team grounded and focused on their main goal, as the grind of the regular season takes its toll.